Brandon Lavergne says he has been deprived of medical care, legal resources and contact visits with his family while in prison.

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Louisiana Gannett

LAFAYETTE -- Six months after Brandon Lavergne pleaded guilty to murdering Mickey Shunick, he remains on extended lockdown near death row at the state prison in a situation that he says deprives him of medical care, legal resources and contact visits with his family.

Lavergne has been at the Louisiana State Penitentiary since an Aug. 17 court appearance in which he pleaded guilty to the May 19 murder of Shunick and took a plea in the 1999 murder of Lisa Pate.

He has since filed documents asking that his guilty pleas be thrown out. Fifteenth Judicial District Judge Herman Clause has not ruled on ...